Saturday, March 21, 2009

Obama Good Cop, Peres Bad Cop on Iran

Two democratic leaders spoke to Iran as their new year approached. U.S. President Barack Obama spoke for three and a half minutes. Obama never smiled despite recalling family gatherings of celebration. He seriously, even dourly, expressing hope for a changed relationship.

The same day, Israeli President Shimon Peres issued another message. It was mostly bat shit crazy. Haaretzreported:

"Things in Iran are tough," said the Israeli president at the start of the address that preceded the blessing. "There is great unemployment, corruption, a lot of drugs and a general discontent? You can't feed your children enriched uranium, they need a real breakfast. It cannot be that the money is invested in enriched uranium and the children are told to remain a little hungry, a little ignorant."

Things are tough and corrupt in U.S. and Israel. Any response? Iran's Supreme Leader, the man in charge, reacted to President Obama's good cop message. The Jerusalem Postreported:

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed overtures from US President Barack Obama, saying Teheran doesn't see any change in American policy toward its government. Speaking to tens of thousands of people in the holy city of Mashhad, Khamenei asked how Obama could congratulate Iranians on the new year while the US continues to accuse the country of supporting terrorism and seeking nuclear weapons.

Will he speak back to the bad cop? Or is that guy too crazy to engage in dialogue? This may end badly. The good cop/bad cop combo usually gets their way. Between the laws they make up, the weapons they shoulder, and the heavy hand they love to use, America and Israel have excessive military power. It may be coming Iran's way.